Microwave popcorn bag folding methods to accommodate small microwave ovens

Abstract

Folding methods were developed for a typical commercial microwave popcorn bag to control its linear expansion and enable it to remain centered in a small (less than one cubic foot) microwave oven with a rotating turntable while the bag is being expanded by the gases of the popping corn.

I claim folding methods applied to a microwave popcorn bag as a means to control its linear expansion while used it a microwave oven which consists of: 
     
       1. A folding method applied to a microwave popcorn bag comprising, a central section filled with popcorn and cooking oil, having two opposed lateral flaps, and having the centerline along the long axis of the unfolded bag, with each flap having outer corners; said method consists of folding each of the said flaps as a means to expand said bag substantially only upward and to retard lateral expansion of the said flaps during a popping process in a microwave oven with interior walls whereby said lateral flaps do not strike the interior walls of a microwave oven of a dimension such that lateral expansion of a conventional microwave bag would strike the interior walls of a microwave.   
     
     
       2. A folding method applied to said bag in claim 1 consisting of folding each of the said flaps over on itself along the said centerline, which reduces its length and then folding each folded flap against the central section of said bag. 
     
     
       3. A folding method applied to said bag in claim 1 consisting of folding each of the said flaps over on itself many times to effect a spiral form against the central section of said bag. 
     
     
       4. A folding method applied to said bag in claim 1 consisting of folding said corners of each of the said flaps diagonally in to the said centerline, and then folding each folded flap against the central section of said bag.